my MIL recommended me a book and i think its the most godawful thing ive ever read . it felt like a punishment and for the life of me i cannot think of what i did to deserve it . the writing was so terribly cringey . the characters and plot were the same . cringefest . i had to stop reading halfway through . how do i politely tell her it wasnt for me without hurting her feelings ?
by elotewitch
35 Comments
Just say it wasn’t for you, if they ask why just say something generic like “I didn’t connect with their writing style and character writing didn’t feel believable”, usually that concludes the conversation pretty quickly.
Everyone is different don’t fret. Just tell them you couldn’t get into it. Not quite the same thing but I recently had a girl tell me she doesn’t like pie and that seems like madness to me lol
Unless it’s someone who I know really likes to talk in-depth about books, I normally say something like “It was alright, but it wasn’t my type of book.” If it’s a genre I don’t typically read, I might say something additional like “I read a lot of nonfiction, but I struggle to get into romance.”
If you can think of any positive s (even something small about a character or the writing style) just go with I liked X, but overall it was my cup of tea.
It was not my cup of tea.
take a running start and whip it right in their face
“I couldn’t really get into it, you know how it is with books, you have to click. Thanks for recommending it though!”
What book was it?
“I didn’t like the book.” “Lets get tacos.”
Just be honest with them. You appreciate the rec but the book just didn’t hit the same note with you that it did with them. A book rec is no different than movie/music/tv show rec. Art hits everyone differently. Sometimes it’s a shared experience and sometimes it isn’t.
It just didn’t resonate with me.
“I couldn’t really stick with it, but I would like to know what you like about the book. Maybe I have something I can suggest for you?”
Assuming you want to connect with your MIL over books, that is.
“I’m so sorry, all my library holds came in at once!”
Read a summary online and tell her it was great 🤣
I just say I couldn’t get into it. No need.to make a song and dance about it.
You say you appreciate that they thought to recommend it but on this one you have different tastes because you did not like it. It’s a book, not a proposal.
“Thanks for thinking of me, but the book didn’t really grab me.”
But now i am dying to know what book it was.
I use the phrase “not my cup of tea” when I disliked something and I don’t want to quantify what it is that I disliked. If they ask more questions I try to give vague answers.
Same way I respond to patrons who recommend books I don’t like:
“It was pretty good, but it’s not really my jam. I really like (polar opposite type of book.) I see why you like it, though!”
“Wasn’t for me, dog.”
“Not my cup of tea” is my go to. There can be nothing wrong with a tea, but if you don’t like it, you don’t like it. Not the teas’s fault or your fault, just not a good match.
Just say “it really wasn’t for me, but thats what I love about reading. Everyone’s tastes are so different!”
I personally DISLIKE if someone tells me they liked a read I recommended if they didn’t. I genuinely want to find out there tastes so I can give different recs.
If they tell me they like it when they don’t, I will keep recommending books they don’t like. And I WANT to know what they like so that I can talk books to someone 😂
Maybe she also hated it lol maybe someone told her it was good and she didn’t read it but told you to read it instead? Lol I agree that you should just be honest, try “man, I got half way but just couldn’t find the motivation to finish it, I wasn’t really into it” then you can recommend a book to her that you actually like. Maybe she’ll read it, maybe she won’t 🤷🏽♀️ I made a resolution a long time ago go DNF books that’s I’m not in love with. Life’s too short to waste my time on things I don’t like, books, shows, movies, whatever. If I’m not feeling it, DNF!
It didn’t quite click for me. But I love that you thought enough to recommend a book for me.
“I just couldn’t get into it”, a true reader will understand and not press you on it
Squirt them with water and firmly declare, “No! I will NOT be reading anything by Colleen Hoover! Not now, not ever!”
…because I’m assuming that a book that bad can only be by Colleen Hoover.
Say, “I absolutely loved that book, thank you so much for the recommendation!” Then when they reply “Wow really!?”, Finish it off with, “No you fucking idiot. You ruined my life recommending this book. Now apologize to me and never give me a recommendation again… Idiot.”
What’s the book??
“I just couldn’t get into it”
Tell your MIL that the book is so pure you’re not worthy to read it.
“I just couldn’t seem to get into it— guess I’m just distracted a lot right now.”
Anyone else dying to know the title? Or did I miss it in the comments?
90% of reddit is “how do I tell someone x “
Assuming you would even have to say anything to them at all about it:
“Thanks for the book recommendation. It sounded interesting and I started it, but I just couldn’t get into it. I appreciate the suggestion though.”